For most of us, friendship building is a natural process, which begins when we are very young. For some children, for many reasons, opportunities for natural friendship building are limited. Often, these children remain on the fringe at recess and lunchtime, and before and after classes. When this is the case, assistance and support for young people to have opportunities to develop social relationships and friendships are necessary. The NMES Circle of Friends group creates these opportunities in a facilitated small group setting. The ultimate goal of the group sessions is to have the students build confidence and self-esteem.
Life Skills Group
The purpose of the Life Skills Group is to provide the students with experiences that will assist in teaching them practical life skills. Many types of skills are required today to experience independence and success in everyday living. Some children need extra help, and practice in learning these skills to become more independent in their homes, at school, and in their community. It is also a great way for the students to get together and socialize with each other.
The Student Services Team recognizes the importance of running such a group for our students with individualized needs. The group will meet on a bi-weekly basis and covers a wide variety of topics, such as; setting the table, importance of cleanliness, how to be a good friend, and the reasons why we celebrate certain occasions.
Seeing Red
An Anger Management and Peacemaking Group for Kids Everyone feels angry at times. Alone, anger is not a problem. It is a feeling, like being happy, excited, sad, or scared. Yet, if it’s not being dealt with or becomes explosive, anger can turn harmful and destructive. Eventually, our anger can control everything we do and damage important relationships with others (Simmonds, n.d.).
The small group format of this group provides students with the opportunity to learn from and empower one another. Children have the opportunity to relate to their peers through discussion, role-play, hands-on activities, and games. Some of the topics covered include: learning to identify common triggers for anger, to take responsibility for actions and mistakes, learn positive and healthy ways to keep from losing control, explore how students sometimes cover up more painful feelings with anger, and to empower group members as peacemakers (Simmonds, n.d.). The group goal is to enable students to build on other important developmental skills (i.e. leadership skills, social skills, and self esteem).
The Split Peas A Divorce and Separation Group for Children
This group has been initiated by the NMES Behavior Mentor and Guidance Mentor.
A divorce or separation is a stressful time for families. The Split Pease is intended to give children dealing with divorce the information and skills they need to help them cope effectively with difficult changes that happen to them and their families. It is created so children understand that they are not alone – there are other children like them.
Children need to know what is happening at a level that is appropriate for their age, that they can talk about their feelings, and be accepted no matter what. When children understand their emotional challenges and can identify and express their feelings, they are better equipped to meet those challenges and successfully overcome them.
Students who participate in this group will have the opportunity to relate to their peers through discussion, role-play, hands-on activities and games. The group covers topics such as; current family situations, some myths and truths about divorce and separation, feelings, being caught in the middle, self-esteem, changing thoughts and self-talk.
Social, Emotional and Behavioural Support Groups
Circle of Friends
For most of us, friendship building is a natural process, which begins when we are very young. For some children, for many reasons, opportunities for natural friendship building are limited. Often, these children remain on the fringe at recess and lunchtime, and before and after classes. When this is the case, assistance and support for young people to have opportunities to develop social relationships and friendships are necessary. The NMES Circle of Friends group creates these opportunities in a facilitated small group setting. The ultimate goal of the group sessions is to have the students build confidence and self-esteem.
Life Skills Group
The purpose of the Life Skills Group is to provide the students with experiences that will assist in teaching them practical life skills. Many types of skills are required today to experience independence and success in everyday living. Some children need extra help, and practice in learning these skills to become more independent in their homes, at school, and in their community. It is also a great way for the students to get together and socialize with each other.
The Student Services Team recognizes the importance of running such a group for our students with individualized needs. The group will meet on a bi-weekly basis and covers a wide variety of topics, such as; setting the table, importance of cleanliness, how to be a good friend, and the reasons why we celebrate certain occasions.
Seeing Red
An Anger Management and Peacemaking Group for KidsEveryone feels angry at times. Alone, anger is not a problem. It is a feeling, like being happy, excited, sad, or scared. Yet, if it’s not being dealt with or becomes explosive, anger can turn harmful and destructive. Eventually, our anger can control everything we do and damage important relationships with others (Simmonds, n.d.).
The small group format of this group provides students with the opportunity to learn from and empower one another. Children have the opportunity to relate to their peers through discussion, role-play, hands-on activities, and games. Some of the topics covered include: learning to identify common triggers for anger, to take responsibility for actions and mistakes, learn positive and healthy ways to keep from losing control, explore how students sometimes cover up more painful feelings with anger, and to empower group members as peacemakers (Simmonds, n.d.). The group goal is to enable students to build on other important developmental skills (i.e. leadership skills, social skills, and self esteem).
The Split Peas
A Divorce and Separation Group for Children
This group has been initiated by the NMES Behavior Mentor and Guidance Mentor.
A divorce or separation is a stressful time for families. The Split Pease is intended to give children dealing with divorce the information and skills they need to help them cope effectively with difficult changes that happen to them and their families. It is created so children understand that they are not alone – there are other children like them.
Children need to know what is happening at a level that is appropriate for their age, that they can talk about their feelings, and be accepted no matter what. When children understand their emotional challenges and can identify and express their feelings, they are better equipped to meet those challenges and successfully overcome them.
Students who participate in this group will have the opportunity to relate to their peers through discussion, role-play, hands-on activities and games. The group covers topics such as; current family situations, some myths and truths about divorce and separation, feelings, being caught in the middle, self-esteem, changing thoughts and self-talk.